What does 802.1x have to do with wireless standards such as 802.11/WEP?
• 802.1X was created as its own protocol and does not require 802.11/WEP or wireless. It is a port access protocol for protecting networks via authentication. As a result, this type of authentication method is extremely useful in the wireless environment due to the nature of the medium. • In a wired LAN environment you generally have a switch/router into which you plug devices that will attempt to access the network. These ports are generally in areas where they can be watched and external intruders would find it difficult to get access to the port. In a wireless LAN environment anyone who is within range of the wireless access point can ‘plug into the port’ and attempt to gain access to the network. In the wired case, most ports are physically protected by location, but in a wireless environment this is not the case. As a result, 802.1X has gained most notoriety for wireless LAN benefits. • In addition, the 802.11 standard, which defines the physical characteristics of the wireless me
